Oct. 31, 2005

Ohio Gameday Central

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Sophomore running back Kalvin McRae (Decatur, Ga.) was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Bobcats' win against Buffalo. It is the second straight week that McRae has earned the league's weekly award.

McRae ran for 224 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 31 carries against the Bulls. It was the second straight game that he eclipsed the 200-yard mark, a feat that has not been done by a Bobcat since Steve Hookfin in 1998. McRae now has three 200-yard games this season, tied for the most by one player in school history (Arnold Welcher, 1975).

McRae has 937 yards on the season and is 63 yards shy of becoming the first Ohio back since Chad Brinker in 2002 to rush for 1,000 yards (1,099). McRae's average of 117.1 yards per game is third in the MAC and 11th nationally. He is one of only two backs in the country to have at least three 200 yard games this season (DeAngelo Williams, Memphis).

McRae is the first Ohio offensive player to win a weekly MAC award twice in the same season since Donny Harrison in 1982. He is the first Bobcat to win it in consecutive weeks since Sam Shon in 1981. The Bobcats are currently tied for first in the MAC East Division with a 3-2 league record. Ohio, Miami, Akron and Bowling Green are all tied for division lead. The Bobcats host Toledo on Friday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.